It’s the first full week of April, which means it’s National Public Health Week 2025! This year, the American Public Health Association is highlighting the ways that “public health starts here.” Public health truly is a collaborative effort that starts right here, in our communities, led by people who live here.
They are family members, neighbors and friends from Spokane County communities. While each citizen has a part in public health, there are also many local professionals who dedicate their lives to this work at organizations like Spokane Regional Health District and the many regional and local partners that champion the health of our communities.
Meet a few of SRHD’s team members—Spokane County residents who see about the health of our communities in remarkably different ways!
Communicable Disease Investigation and Prevention
Veronica is an epidemiologist in SRHD’s Communicable Disease Investigation and Prevention program. She monitors infectious disease activity in the county and investigates cases and outbreaks as they occur.
When the weather's nice, you'll find her paddleboarding with friends on local lakes like Liberty and Newman Lake. She also enjoys participating in Restaurant Week each year where she can try a variety of dishes from different cuisines.
Test your public health knowledge! Join Social Media Specialist Maddy (pictured at left) out on the street with SRHD program specialists as they quiz community members on public health trivia.
School Health and Safety
From slides and swing sets to climbing structures and more, Trisha, an environmental health specialist from the Living Environment program, ensures playtime is nothing but fun! Trisha and her team inspect around 50 schools with playgrounds each year to ensure they're safe for kids to enjoy, and she provides guidance during the planning phase of all new school playgrounds in Spokane County or when changes or modifications are made to existing play structures.
In her free time, she enjoys tending to her garden, which consists of corn, carrots, peas, beans, Yukon gold potatoes, garlic, zucchini and squash. She also has flower beds that include tulips and daffodils, which she brings to work to share with other team members!
Healthy Living
Josh manages the district’s Healthy Living programs, which address child safety, child and parent health, access to care, substance use, healthy aging, and the built environments where we all live, work and play. Together with his team, Josh supports outreach efforts and collaborates with community partners to increase visibility of the programs he oversees.
When he's not at work, he enjoys walking and biking the Centennial Trail, cheering on family friends at volleyball tournaments in town, and going to concerts and comedy shows at the Spokane Comedy Club and Knitting Factory.
Test your public health knowledge! Join Social Media Specialist Maddy (pictured at left) out on the street with SRHD program specialists as they quiz community members on public health trivia.
Pollution Prevention
The Spokane River is a scenic view year-round, and keeping our waterways clean is a top priority for Vikki, an environmental health specialist from the Pollution Prevention program. She helps educate small businesses, like auto repair shops and grocery stores, on how to properly handle, store, and dispose of hazardous waste so they don’t pollute the Spokane River or the aquifer.
Right over the Spokane River on the Monroe Street Bridge is also where she's crossed the finish line at Bloomsday every year since 1985. In fact, she plans to participate in her 41st Bloomsday this year!
Food Safety
Alyson is a technical advisor from the Food Safety program. Alyson helps train new food inspectors and provides ongoing support and guidance as they inspect food establishments and provide food safety education to prevent foodborne illness outbreaks in our community.
During the winter, she enjoys skiing at Mt. Spokane but turns in her skis for a kayak or paddleboard in the summer to enjoy the Spokane River.
Test your public health knowledge! Join Social Media Specialist Maddy (pictured at right) out on the street with SRHD program specialists as they quiz community members on public health trivia.
Medical Case Management
Helping people navigate chronic medical conditions is how Josh, a case manager in the health district’s Medical Case Management program, supports public health in the community. He helps clients access important health care services and connects them with mental health resources, treatment and recovery services, and housing and transportation assistance. His team takes a holistic approach to provide equitable care that improves their client's overall health and well-being.
Outside of work, Josh is an active participant in the Spokane community. He plays in a local band that performs at Pig Out in the Park each year, coaches T-ball for Spokane Indians Youth Sports, and creates Arabic calligraphy that he showcases in shops around town or donates to support local auctions. He creates a sense of community and belonging in both his personal and professional life and is a wonderful asset to SRHD’s public health team!
To celebrate National Public Health Week, Social Media Specialist Maddy ventured into Riverfront Park and around downtown Spokane to test people's public health knowledge with staff from different programs here at Spokane Regional Health District!
